Gay straight

The person may be attracted to people of the opposite sex (i.e, be straight), attracted to people of their same sex (i.e., be gay), or they may identify as another sexual orientation—there are many. Note that sexual orientation is completely distinct from gender identity. Welcome to our in-depth exploration of the differences between being gay and straight.

In this article, we will delve into the historical and contemporary definitions of sexual orientation, discuss measurement tools, and examine the fluidity and diversity within the LGBTQ+ community. Most of us assume that these three orientations encompass the universe of sexual identities.

But there is a new kid on the block: The mostly straight male. To the uninitiated, mostly straight. People who’re attracted to a different gender (for example, women who are attracted to men or men who are attracted to women) often call themselves straight or heterosexual.

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People who’re attracted to people of the same gender often call themselves gay or homosexual. Gay women may prefer the term lesbian. While straight individuals are attracted to people of the opposite gender, gay individuals are attracted to people of the same gender. Both orientations are equally valid and should be accepted without prejudice or discrimination. What causes a child to grow up gay or straight?

In this book, neuroscientist Simon LeVay summarizes a wealth of scientific evidence that points to one inescapable conclusion: Sexual orientation results primarily from an interaction between genes, sex hormones, and the cells of the developing body and brain. LeVay helped create this field in with a much-publicized study in Science , where he reported on a difference in the brain structure between gay and straight men. Since then, an entire scientific discipline has sprung up around the quest for a biological explanation of sexual orientation.

In this book, LeVay provides a clear explanation of where the science stands today, taking the reader on a whirlwind tour of laboratories that specialize in genetics, endocrinology, neuroscience, cognitive psychology, evolutionary psychology, and family demographics. He describes, for instance, how researchers have manipulated the sex hormone levels of animals during development, causing them to mate preferentially with animals of their own gender.

LeVay also reports on the prevalence of homosexual behavior among wild animals, ranging from Graylag geese to the Bonobo chimpanzee. Although many details remain unresolved, the general conclusion is quite clear: A person's sexual orientation arises in large part from biological processes that are already underway before birth.